Assessment of self-care practice and its associated factors among diabetic patients in urban area of urmia, northwest of iran

Self care of diabetes is essential for control of disease and improvement
of quality of patients' life. The aim of this study was to assess factors
influencing self-care practice of patients in urban area of Urmia, Northwest of
Iran.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 400 diabetic patients were randomly selected
from eight healthcare centers in Urmia City in 2010. Data collection tools
was a questionnaire included data on demographic characteristics, diabetes statues,
and self-care practice. Patients' self-care practice was classified to good,
moderate, and poor levels. ANOVA and Chi–square tests were used to exam the
association between self-care practice and clinical and behavioral factors.
Spearman’s rho correlation was used to examine the relation between self-care
practice and control of glycemia.
Results: The patients' self-care practice was good in 15.1%, moderate in 58.7%,
and poor in 26.2%. There was a significant association between education
(P=0.030), duration of disease (P=0.04), and treatment intensity (P=0.001) and
self-care practice of patients.
Conclusion: Despite the important role of self-care practice in management of
diabetes and preventing its serious complications, most patients who have medical
record in health care centers had inappropriate self-care practice especially in
SMBG, which has critical role in controlling diabetes